Grassy-floral soil covering as a tool for increasing herbaceous diversity in agroforestry

Abstract

Intensive agricultural technologies lead to a simplification of landscape and a decrease in biodiversity. Besides economic benefits, alley cropping might increase species richness, improving pollination in agriculture. In this research, a traditional apricot plantation combined with crop fields was studied in Burgenland, focused on herbaceous diversity and species composition, which have a crucial role in promoting pollination. The vegetation of the grassy strips under the tree rows was compared to control grass and tree plantation habitats. The results show that the loose canopy layer of the fruit trees promotes the appearance of several herbaceous species, which results in a more diverse understory layer compared to the control tree plantation. However, the intensity of the management significantly impacts the species richness and composition of the understory vegetation.

Keywords

• orchard
• alley cropping
• understorey vegetation
• species richness